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Delay condemned by Plaid Cymru as politically motivated on the part of the UK government

by Sally Williams

15:48, 11 Mar 2015Updated17:07, 11 Mar 2015

Simon Thomas AM

A delay into the outcome of Britain’s biggest wind farm inquiry, involving five developments in Wales, has been condemned by Plaid Cymru as a case of “political manoeuvring”.

Controversial plans for onshore wind farms in Mid Wales sparked a planning inquiry which began in June 2013.

But Plaid Cymru’s Mid and West Wales AM Simon Thomas said on Thursday that the Westminster coalition government now expects the decision to be made early in the next parliament.

Senedd protest

The five developments include Llanbadarn Fynydd, Llaithddu, Llandinam, Llanbrynmair, and Carnedd Wen and an overhead line connection from Llandinam Wind Farm, to a substation near Welshpool in Powys.

Mr Thomas said: “The delay smacks of political manoeuvring to save the Westminster government from making a decision.

“Plaid Cymru believes that the Welsh Government should have the powers to make decisions on all energy developments and not have to wait for Ministers, far removed from the communities of Powys, making a decision on the future of energy development and the impact it has on our local economy.”

An alliance of about 20 organisations oppose the plans by six energy developers.

And protesters from Mid Wales travelled to the Senedd in Cardiff to hold the biggest protest seen in Cardiff Bay when the plans were announced.

The Royal Oak Hotel in Welshpool hosted the arguments for and against wind energy at the public inquiry from June 4, 2013, to May 30 last year.

'A difficult and controversial decision'

But responding to Mr Thomas’s criticism, Glyn Davies – Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire – said he welcomed the delay for such a “complex inquiry”.

“I don’t quite know what the Plaid Cymru statement is based on,” he said. “I welcome delay before the General Election.

“I think that the Government should take as long as it needs for such a difficult and controversial decision that should be dealt with properly and that the Department of Energy and Climate Change should take the time they require to come to a proper conclusion.

“Rushing this out in the last week or two before we go into purdah would be utterly outrageous and would cause so much trouble."

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies

He added: “A normal public inquiry typically takes three months for a conclusion.

“The inspector reported on December 8 last year, so perhaps some expected a conclusion in early March.

“But this inquiry is much more complex and involves five wind farms and a power line that could potentially lead to 25 wind farms not just five.

“I have been clear all along that I hope the inspector recommends refusal.”

'Even greater uncertainty'

Peter Ogden, director of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, said: “The situation creates even greater uncertainty about the legitimacy of the various proposals and also means that there is even less justification for National Grid perusing their proposals for a new grid connection through Mid Wales.”

Cash-strapped Powys County Council earmarked £2.8m to fund the inquiry which was overseen by planning inspector Andrew Poulter.